The government's IBGE statistics institute points out that industrial output was up in 21 of 27 sectors averaging 6% in 2007 compared to 8.3% in 2004, 2.8% in 2006 and 3.1% in 2005. Leading sectors were the automotive industry, 15.2% and the production of machinery and equipment 17.7%.
On annual basis, industrial production rose 6.4% in December compared to the same month in 2006.
However in December and November output slumped in 16 of the 27 industrial sectors tracked by IBGE, dragged down by a 6.2% drop in automobile production. It was the second consecutive month that auto production shrank after surging 8.7% in October. This is attributed to companies clearing end of the year inventories.
In broader categories, output of capital goods such as machinery fell 0.2% in December from November after four straight months of increases. Consumer goods dropped 2.1% after falling 0.6% in November, while output of intermediate goods rose 1%.
Meantime industrial employment in December grew by 0.5% and the number of hours worked 3.8% over the previous month according to Brazil's Confederation of Industry.
In 2007, compared to 2006 employment in industry rose 3.8% and hours worked 4%.
"Industrial goods sales rates and hours worked in 2007 are similar to those of 2004, considered the most dynamic year of the decade," said CNI.
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